Canadian Musical Content

Subject: Canadian Musical Content
From: GUEST,Metchosin
Date: 04 May 05 - 05:34 AM

I received the following email today and thought there might be some Canadian musicians here at Mudcat who would be interested in this recent proposal to modify CANCON.

Fellow musicians,

Today marks an important day for Canadian independent recording artists. After months of consultations with the CRTC, Canadian Heritage, radio broadcasters and independent artists, we are launching our campaign to fix CANCON. Our proposal is already circulating in Ottawa and is being very warmly received. We are on the verge of making some of the most important changes to CANCON since the seventies.

As a Canadian musician, you must visit:

Let's Fix CANCON

Read it, understand it and pass it along to your fellow musicians, family, friends, fans, co-workers, and anyone you think may help the cause. We need Canadians to understand our vision for achieving healthy Canadian music and radio industries.

Sincerely,

>Gregg Terrence >President >Indie Pool Canada

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: GUEST
Date: 04 May 05 - 07:26 AM

I have to say that I do not entirely agree with you. It seems to me that the Canadian content rules were made for a number of reasons, not just to promote unknown artists. The rules were also made so that Canadians could hear Canadians on Radio. I do agree that we need to give exposure to new artists, but let us not do it at the expense of other artists. But I guess it is typically Canadian to penalize success.

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: breezy
Date: 04 May 05 - 10:02 AM

Canadian artistes need to be supported domestically.

How many people are aware who the artiste is that sings the soundtrack at the Disney Epcot Oh Canada film exhibition?

It may have changed since my previous visits.

Anyone know who I'm on about?

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: Metchosin
Date: 04 May 05 - 11:24 AM

Guest, with access to the internet, 60% foreign content on Canadian radio stations and the fact that most of the the Canadian population is in southern Canada and radiowaves know no borders, Canadian's have no problem with exposure to music content other than Canadian.

But there is a problem with the amount of Shania Twain and Celine Dion with which they are bombarded or just how many golden oldies of Leonard Cohen and the Guess Who that is poured upon them.

The proposal could address this in some manner and I am willing to run the risk of listening to some lame stuff, in order to give younger musicians, independant talent and musicians unsigned by major lables more of an opportunnity to strut their stuff.

You could very well be correct that Canadians penalize success, but they also seem to have no time for their young either.

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: GUEST
Date: 06 May 05 - 09:49 AM

I don't believe that I suggested , or meant to suggest, that we had too little access to artists other than Canadians. However, I do believe that we must have far more Canadian content on our Radio stations...that would allow room for all Canadian artists to be heard. I must say that our local CBC station is very good at playing local talent and up and coming artists. I also believe that more independant radio stations would be helpful. We have a local station at Dalhousie University and it does a wonderful job for local talent. Maybe we all need to support locally owned independant radio as well.

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: GUEST,tipper
Date: 06 May 05 - 10:02 AM

That's the ticket, Guest. We do need to support independent radio. We also need to get out to our local clubs and union halls to see these people play.

I'll confess to owning popular CD's (although I'm Canadian enough to be ashamed of it), but all of my favourite discs are the ones I've bought directly from artists, at their gigs.

I don't think we'll ever change popular radio ... and the CANCON rules just result in our having to listen to the same old Twain, Dion, and Hip songs over and over. Most advertisers don't have or use any measurement techniques to check the effectiveness of their advertising. So they will keep throwing money at popular radio to keep it alive and well.

All we can do is support the small guys by going to their gigs and buying their CD's. Maybe some day the whole "superstar" system of the music industry will go bankrupt, and we'll be left with nothing but all these cool local bands.

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: Peace
Date: 06 May 05 - 10:16 AM

The notion that is proposed in the link does not suggest that people like The Rankins, Lightfoot, and Rogers will disappear from the audio radar. It does suggest that new singers and writers get some airplay. That is a laudable idea. In fact, that was part of the original intent when the regulations came out more decades ago than I care to remember. I agree with Metchosin and I will pass it along.

Does anyone know SOCAN's position on it all? I'd be interested.

Bruce Murdoch

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: ejsant
Date: 06 May 05 - 10:16 AM

I do not live in Canada and I am not very well versed in the broadcast content laws so my opinion is solely based on personal philosophy. That said, I am not at all in favor of any legislation mandating certain content be aired period.

We have "Public Radio" stations in the US. Mostly, and I know there are plenty examples of abuse of this system, these stations are supported by the listeners. The station I am a member of, and support by my financial contributions (as meager as they are) as well as volunteering at different station events is WFUV. This is the Fordham University radio station. This station responds to the musical wants of their listeners. There are a few "underwriting" announcements (corporate sponsors) each day but two thirds of the operating budget comes from listener donations. I answer the phones during the pledge drives and I can attest to the fact that the station has a listening "community". In reality if the musical content was not in accordance with the listeners' desires the station would either fold or only air "canned program" content purchased from either NPR or other air show clearing houses whilst supported solely by the university.

There is plenty of "new", "local", as well as "not very much heard" talent aired on a continuous basis. That is why the listener support stays high enough to keep the station on the air. In this system each community, by way of their support or lack there of, can determine the content they wish to be aired. To my way of thinking a much better way of protecting liberties than mandated content.

Peace,
Ed

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: GUEST
Date: 06 May 05 - 12:32 PM

Answer to the Disney quizz.....Stan the MAN Rogers!

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: GUEST
Date: 09 May 05 - 10:37 AM

It may be well and good for Radio in The Us not to require content rules but in a small(population) country like Canada it is easy for American owned and controlled stations to dominate the airwaves. If there were no required canadian content these forgien stations would never play Canadian music at all. Radio sstations only reflect the community if they are part of the community..unfortunately here in Canada that is often not the case. CBC is public radio and does provide some assistance to new artists..but we do need the content rules, as in any other trade or international agreement,

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: Peace
Date: 09 May 05 - 10:53 AM

The ruling--which many of us thought heavy-handed to begin with has proven to be beneficial to Canadian singers, songwriters, etc. Many countries--US, Australia, Canada place protective tariffs on goods. Same thing with this.

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: GUEST,Metchosin
Date: 09 May 05 - 02:08 PM

I can't get the link to Let's Fix CANCON to work when I use Netscape, so for anyone having a similar problem, here is the cut and paste address.

http://www.letsfixcancon.ca/

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: dianavan
Date: 09 May 05 - 11:24 PM

I like the point system. It is not suggesting that we eliminate Canadian content. It I read it correctly, it is 'being fixed' so that Canadian superstars aren't the only ones being played. I could do with alot less Celine Dion, thats for sure. I was never a fan of Anne Murray or Stan Rogers, either. Enough of the Canadian darlings and bring on the new music. I'm all for it. I happen to like Avril and Shania but would really like to hear more of other musicians in Canada.

...and yes, we do need rules about Canadian content. Its the only thing that keeps us from being drowned by the U.S. music industry.

Subject: RE: Canadian Musical Content
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 05 - 07:30 AM

Maybe we need some stations that are totally Canadian, then it would be a true showcase of the wide variety Of Canadian music that is available from   Shania to struggling local bands.